UA Pine Bluff Athletics

UAPB alum Cedric Thomas is in his second season as head coach of the Golden Lions.

In his first season, UAPB produced seven players who earned All-Southwestern Athletic Conference honors, including four first-team selections. RB Taeyler Porter led the conference with 1,220 yards. SWAC Freshman of the Year in WR DeJuan Miller tied for the conference lead in receptions (56), was third in receiving yards (801), and was tied for second in receiving touchdowns (six). K/P Jamie Gillan earned first team honors at both positions, was second in the conference in punting average (42.5), and led the SWAC with 20 field goals made. DL Jalen Steward was second on the team in tackles and first in sacks with seven.

UAPB went 2-9 in Thomas’ first season at the helm, with the Lions losing four games by a touchdown or less, including a pair of overtime defeats.

Thomas returned home after spending six seasons at Alcorn State, initially coaching defensive backs (2012-15), before spending the last two seasons as defensive coordinator (2016-17). The Braves won four straight SWAC Eastern Division titles, including back-to-back SWAC titles in 2014 and 2015 and played in the inaugural Celebration Bowl.

The former Golden Lion cornerback began his coaching career as a graduate assistant at Alcorn (2001) before becoming running backs coach at Tennessee-Martin for one season (2002).

Thomas had two stints at Mississippi Delta Community College as defensive coordinator (2003-04; 2007-11), sandwiched around coaching defensive backs at Itawamba Community College (2005-06).

After beginning his collegiate playing career at Mississippi Delta Community College, Thomas was a two-year letterman and started his senior for the Golden Lions. He graduated from UAPB in 2001 with a bachelor’s degree in recreation and earned his Master’s degree in administration from Alcorn in 2015.

The Cleveland, Miss. native is married to Kelunda, and the couple has one daughter, Loegan. Thomas also as a son, Cedric Jr.